Central African Republic Situation

The Central African Republic (CAR) is one of the world’s poorest countries and has been among the 10 most under-reported humanitarian crises for 5 years in a row.

It has been troubled by unrest for years, but since May 2017, fresh and fierce clashes between armed groups have wrought increasing suffering, deaths and destruction of property.

Violence and insecurity following the December 2020 general election has forced tens of thousands more to flee.

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Over 632,108

refugees from CAR

630,834

displaced inside CAR

Updated January 2021

Full statistics

“I lost everything: my home, my flesh, my identity. My kids sleep on the floor.”

- Zainaba, widowed mother of four displaced in Bangui

Back in December 2013, hundreds of thousands of people were forced to flee their homes as violence spread in the Central African Republic (CAR), with armed groups controlling parts of the country. Today, CAR continues to experience sporadic surges of violence forcing over 632,108 CAR refugees to remain in neighbouring Cameroon, Chad, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and the Republic of the Congo, with smaller numbers in Sudan and South Sudan. In addition to the refugees, 630,834 people have been forced to flee inside the country.

CAR had been experiencing a gradual transition towards peace and stability since late 2016, when both refugees and internally displaced people started to go back home. Now, insecurity is plaguing areas in the centre, northwest, east and south-east of CAR – some not previously affected by violence.

Thousands of people walk for weeks and hide in the forests in a desperate bid to escape, sometimes with nothing to eat or drink. Those who arrive at sites for the displaced have witnessed traumatic scenes of violence, and malnutrition rates have risen to serious levels.

It is one of the most poorly funded emergency situations globally, many people lack even basic survival assistance. Food, health, shelter, and water and sanitation are all primary concerns for refugees living outside formal sites and for the communities hosting them.

What is UNHCR doing to help?

UNHCR is helping people affected by the violence and conflict. Inside CAR, UNHCR’s focus remains on life-saving protection and assistance, distributing basic relief items to the newly displaced and new community shelters are being set up in response to the growing number of IDPs. In neighbouring countries, UNHCR and its partners continue to respond to new arrivals while building refugee’s livelihoods and ability to sustain themselves.